Department of Political Science and Development Studies

De La Salle University Manila

Theories in International Relations

Term 2, SY 2015-2016

Course Code: INTTREL

Prerequisite: None
Prerequisite to: None
Type of Course: Major
Date/Time/Room:
Faculty: Javad F. Heydarian
Consultation Schedule: M-W 12-2:30pm; TTH 4-6pm
Contact Detail: jrfheydarian@gmail.com

I. Course Description

The course is an undergraduate-level class on theories of International Relations (IR), designed to familiarize the students with
varying schools of thought in the study of international relations (ir). The course covers basic concepts in IR theory, followed by key
perspectives/approaches/paradigms in IR, namely realist/neorealist, liberal/neoliberal, Marxist, English School and constructivist
approaches in the study of the field, among others. Combining theory and praxis, the course also covers key issues in ir, which shape
contemporary international system, ranging from climate change, and terrorism, to resource-competition, and the rise of non-
Western powers, which have become the engine of economic growth and new players on the global stage. The course is designed to
assist the students in (a) grasping the contending, competing, and/or complementing theoretical approaches in the study of ir in
terms of their respective strengths and limitations; (b) knowing how these different schools of thought in IR have been used by many
scholars in their analyses of various international phenomenaevents, trends, issues, and problems; and (c) Demonstrating their
analytical and skills using these theoretical approaches in examining chosen international phenomena in their reports and paper
submissions.
LEARNING OUTCOME

This is an enabling course in the political science graduate program designed to contribute to the attainment of the three Expected
Lasallian Graduate Attributes (ELGAs) that the department has formulated for its major students.

The general aim is to equip the students with the knowledge and skills to (1) understand globalization and describe its various
dimensions, manifestation, and its impact on the relations among states; (2) discuss and analyze issues in contemporary international
politics by effectively utilizing various IR theories; (3) develop and conduct a research addressing a relevant IR issue; interpret
current processes associated with national political- economic development as well as economic and political globalization, the
structural context in which these take place, and their political, economic and social consequences; (4) develop key analytical,
interpretative, and written and oral presentational skills; (5) enhance the ability to form informed opinion on key trends in terms of
international affairs and development issues; and (6) understand the interface of state, market, and society in shaping development
within and beyond nation-states

Course objectives are anchored on three of the five Expected Lasallian Graduate Attributes (ELGAs) identified by the College of
Liberal Arts.

CLA ELGAs LEARNING OUTCOME

A DLSU Political Science graduate is a/an
Competent and socially responsible
professional who understands the dynamics
of
politics and public policy
Articulate knowledge producer conscious of
the need to improve our understanding of
development and the political process
Collaborative stakeholder engaged in the
development of society and government
On completion of the course, students are expected to be able to write
and submit a final course paper that analytically examines one of the
core issues in the syllabus, providing an assessment of selected
readings, their strengths and weaknesses, and more broadly their
relevance to understanding a particular phenomenon in the international
system. The students are expected to display basic familiarity with
varying theoretical frameworks in IR as well as key issues discussed in
the syllabus.

INTTREL syllabus AY 2015-2016 Term 1 Page 2

FINAL COURSE OUTPUT

As evidence of attaining the learning outcome stated above, students are required to accomplish and submit the
following during the indicated dates of the term.

LEARNING OUTCOME REQUIRED OUTPUT DUE DATES

Develop a term paper, individually, on Final course output:

any specified topic in the syllabus
Students are required to submit a term paper on a
particular topic covered by the syllabus, either on theory
or praxis, or preferably a combination of the two. The
paper should combine required and complementary
readings in order to synthesize a topic of special
relevance concerning contemporary developments in the
international system. The paper should provide an
assessment of selected readings, their strengths and
weaknesses, and more broadly their relevance to
understanding a particular phenomenon in the
international system.

Take note: While updated facts and figures could be

drawn from a variety of sources, students are required to
avoid -- as much as possible -- journalistic sources (i.e.,
The Economist, Time magazine, Newsweek, etc.) for
developing and supporting their basic premises,
arguments, and conclusions; instead, they are
encouraged to use a combination of scholarly books,
academic journals, interviews with experts, policy
journals (e.g., Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, The
National Interest), and materials from varying think tanks
(e.g. Council on Foreign Relations, Center for Strategic
and International Studies, etc.), and/or reputable local

INTTREL syllabus AY 2015-2016 Term 1 Page 3

 and international research centers.

Component outputs:

1. Students are required to submit proposed

term paper topics, including tentative outline, September 25, 2015
for comments by instructor, no later than
September 25, 2015. Specifically, the students
should submit (1-2 pages) an outline of their
proposed topic, preferably with 5 academic
sources for their list of references.

2. Students are required to submit a

refined/revised (after consultation with the
Professor), more detailed outline of their term
paper (2-3 pages), with at least 10 academic October 15, 2015
sources by no later than October 15, 2015.

3. Students are required to present the

summary of their paper in class, starting by
the second-third week of November. They
should also submit a Review of Literature (tentative: November 17)
(RoL) of at least the 10 main academic
resources they will be using for their paper.
The RoL should be around 3000 words,
single-spaced, font 11.

4. The students should submit the final paper

(no more than 20 pages, and no less than 15
pages; font 11-12, double space; excluding Week 13
tables, endnotes and bibliography) one week
before the end of the classes.

INTTREL syllabus AY 2015-2016 Term 1 Page 4

ASSESSMENT RUBRIC FOR FINAL COURSE OUTPUT

The following rubric shall be used to assess the final individual papers. You are advised to self-check your work
based on the assessment criteria identified below prior to submission.

CRITERIA EXEMPLARY SATISFACTORY DEVELOPING BEGINNING

(Grade: 90 and (Grade: 80-89) (Grade: 70-79) (Grade: 69 and
above) below)
ANALYTICAL CONTENT: 60% The submitted work The submitted The submitted The submitted
The issues are analyzed carefully and manifests qualities work manifests work partially work does not
systematically. Attention is placed to which go beyond the the required manifests the manifest any of
segregating known facts from biased requirements. In qualities. required the requirements.
views. Unsubstantiated opinions are particular, there is an qualities.
avoided. A balanced perspective is effective examination Certain
offered based on the use of a variety of and synthesis of the aspects are
analytical frameworks and an similarities and either
appropriate understanding of the views differences emerging incomplete or
of the variety of stakeholders/actors in from the application of incorrect.
the issues. Key concepts and IR/IPE different analytical
are appropriately used and applied in frameworks.
the analysis. Novel ways of thinking
about old issues are presented.
FORMAT, ORGANIZATION AND The submitted work The submitted The submitted The submitted
LANGUAGE: 40% manifests qualities work manifests work partially work does not
The final product is clean and well- which go beyond the the required manifests the manifest any of

INTTREL syllabus AY 2015-2016 Term 1 Page 5

organized. It must follow accepted requirements. In qualities. required the requirements.
standards of university-level writing, particular, the final qualities.
with no grammatical and spelling output is excellently Certain
errors. The language used is produced, aspects are
respectful of diversity and sensitive to demonstrating careful either
the conditions faced by a variety of attention to details. incomplete or
stakeholders, especially marginalized incorrect.
groups. Sources are used and cited
appropriately. Any form of plagiarism
or inadequate citation is strongly
discouraged, and would be dealt with
according to relevant university
regulations and academic principles.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS AND ASSESSMENTS

Aside from the final output identified above, students will be assessed at other times during the term through
participation in class discussions and activities. (`10%)

The students will be assigned to report on an identified issue in ir. As undergraduate students, they are encouraged
to engage in extensive research in order to identify key academic sources for the development of their report. The
professor may suggest or provide certain readings to help shape/guide individual reports, but the students are
encouraged to incorporate other readings/materials (outside the syllabus) to embellish the content of their report, and
make it more relevant and timely. The presentation shall not exceed 90 minutes, preferably within an hour/ hour and
fifteen minutes, focusing on the most important elements of the topic at hand; there will be 15-25 minutes of Q&A (with
other classmates and/or professor) after each group presentation. The reports will be required to submit a summary (3-6
pages) a week, at the latest, after the report proper of the highlights and important elements of the readings they were
assigned. After the conclusion of individual reports, the professor has the prerogative to present a supplementary lecture
on a specific issue area in order to ensure the students have a basic grasp of all important concepts and issues vis--vis

INTTREL syllabus AY 2015-2016 Term 1 Page 6

the topic at hand. Note: A similar rubric of assessment will be applied for both individual term papers (see above section)
and the individual report, which will be holistically assessed based on the presentation proper plus the summary paper
(30%)

The students are required to present a summary of their paper, 30-45 minutes, in the class; this allows the professor and
other classmates to share constructive inputs, if necessary, while allowing the students to present, in an optimal and
concise manner, the gist of their prospective final paper. In their brief report, students are highly encouraged to only focus
on the key elements of their paper, namely the central argument, conclusions, theoretical framework, and sources that
they will be using for their paper (10%).

GRADING SYSTEM

You will be graded based on the following:

Term paper (individual) (50%) 50%
Presentation of paper (10%) 10%
_Individual Report (30%)_______ 30%
_Participation_(10%)_________________ 10%_
_________________________ Total: 100%____

Final grades will be computed using the following equivalence:

Raw Score Final Grade
97 and above 4.0
93 to 96 3.5
89 to 92 3.0
85 to 88 2.5
80 to 84 2.0
75 to 79 1.5
70 to 74 1.0
Below 70 0.0

INTTREL syllabus AY 2015-2016 Term 1 Page 7

LEARNING PLAN

The emphasis of this course is on enabling graduate students to ask meaningful questions about and identify key issues in the
contemporary international system -- and to acquire the tools with which to explore these questions analytically. The course is
organized around the key concepts used by IR scholars to understand the most important developments in the international system. To
allow students to have enough time and opportunity to conduct relevant research for their class requirements, particularly their term
papers and individual reports, the professor may consider 1-2 research breaks.

A significant portion of the learning activities throughout the term are based on lecture-discussions, which will be conducted to
introduce core concepts and to synthesize key points of the readings in the syllabus. Nevertheless, the lectures are not solely confined
to the assigned readings, for the professor may choose to provide a more comprehensive synthesis of multiple works or provide
supplementary analysis, which transcend the individual readings assigned to the students. In this course, the hope is to combine depth
with breadth of knowledge. The students are expected to have read the assigned material before class. Moreover, they are encouraged
to identify the main argument/s proposed by the author/s; the empirical evidence presented by the author/s to support the argument/s;
the causal logic of the argument/s; and an assessment of their validity. The ultimate aim of the lectures, class activities, and diligent
preparation by the students is to enable them to develop and write an extensive academic paper on an important issue in the
contemporary international system. The professor will evaluate each students contribution in class discussions based on his or her
comprehension and analytical acumen in tackling the assigned readings in class, and how well he or she is able to respond to questions
from the professor and other students in class. Healthy debates and discussions in class are of course encouraged in order to stimulate
everyones intellectual appetites. It is in fact hoped that the discussions would continue even after class hours. The professor may
consider 1-2 research breaks to give the students enough time to prepare for their major documents.

Our specific schedule for the term, inclusive of assigned readings for each session, is as follows (note: nonetheless, the instructor
reserves the prerogative to make necessary adjustments, specifically in terms of the sequencing and flow of the topics to ensure most
important topics are prioritized and major in-class activities and requirements are finalized before the end of classes):

INTTREL syllabus AY 2015-2016 Term 1 Page 8

 LEARNING TOPIC REFERENCES (the WEEK LEARNING
OUTCOME list is subject to ACTIVITIES
expansion)

INTTREL syllabus AY 2015-2016 Term 1 Page 9

On Basic Concepts and
completion of theories in IR
the course,
students are a.) Review of the Syllabus
expected to
submit a final
individual
paper, which
will reflect
their b.) Basic Concepts in IR:
familiarity with What is a theory? A
basic issues paradigm? Can there be
and theories a theory of International
discussed in Relations? What are the
and/or in sources of theory in
relation to the international relations?
topics What is Level of Analysis
covered by (LoA) problem in IR?
the syllabus Anarchy and the study of
international relations?
What is the concept of
anarchy and why is it
important in the study of
international relations?
What theoretical
approaches emphasize
anarchy and conflict in the
study of international
relations? To what extent is
the concept of anarchy
useful in the study of
international relations?
INTTREL syllabus AY 2015-2016 Term 1
Lecture-discussions
Week 1
Brown w/Ainley, Weeks 2 and 3
Understanding
International Relations,
Chapters 1-3.
Vasquez, The Power of
Politics, Chapter 1.
Singer, J. D. 1969. The
Level of Analysis
Problem in International
Relations. In
International Politics
and Foreign Policy: A
Reader in Research and
Theory, ed. James
Rosenau. New York: The
Free Press, 20-29.
Brown w/ Ainley,
Chapter 4.
Milner, H. 1991. The
assumption of anarchy
Page 10
 Praxis: Contemporary Week 6-7 Activity:
Issues in IR References: for this
section, only basic
readings under certain
sections are so far
Lecture-discussions
indicated, so the Group-based
references are subject to discussions;
considerable expansion consultations on
in the coming weeks by outline of individual
the professor and the papers; individual
individual reporters, who reports
are expected to do
extensive research for the
praxis section and apply
theoretical lessons from
the previous section

INTTREL syllabus AY 2015-2016 Term 1 Page 11

 I. The Rise of the
Rest: How non-
Western Powers
are Re-Shaping
the International
System

a.) This section focuses its Goldman Sachs. 2003.

attention on so-called Dreaming with BRICs:
emerging economies led The Path to 2050.
by BRICS (Brazil, Russia, Global Economics
India, and China) plus the Paper No. 99.
next 11, and their impact
on the global political Goldman Sachs Global
economy. Great attention Economic Group. 2007.
(from big business, BRICs and Beyond.
academe, and mass New York: Goldman
media, among others) has Sachs.
been drawn by this group
of economies when
Goldman Sachs, a Jain, Subhash, ed.
prominent Wall Street 2006. Emerging
investment house, Economies and the
projected in 2003 that Transformation of
BRIC will be as large as International Business.
the G6 economies in 40 Cheltenham: Edward
years and that only the US Elgar, Chapters 1-3; 18-
and Japan may be among 19.
the six largest economies Sharma, R. (2011).
by 2050. Just recently, Breakout Nations: In
China has overtaken Pursuit of the Next
Japan and became the Economic Miracles. New
second largest economy York: W.W. Norton &

INTTREL syllabus AY 2015-2016 Term 1 Page 12

 II. Non-traditional Weeks 8, 9, 10 Lecture-discussions
security issues: Group-based
the growing role discussions;
of non-state individual reports
actors in the
international
system

a.) This section analyzes Heydarian, R.J. (2014)

the roots and trajectory How Capitalism Failed
religious the Arab World: The
fundamentalism, the Economic Roots and
Global War on Terror Precarious Future of
(GWOT), and, above Middle East Uprisings.
all, the Arab uprisings, Zed: London. pp. 95-
examining whether the 172
2010-2011 revolutions
in the region were a Joshi, S. (2014)
reaction to (the failures) Beyond al-Qaeda: 13
of economic years after 9/11,
globalization, and how Aljazeera Opinion
post-revolutionary (September)
governments are
coping with the McCants, W.(2014)
continued pressures of how Zawahiri Lost al
the global economy. It Qaeda, Foreign
also examines the Affairs (November)
impact of the uprisings
(and counter- Kaplan, R. (2005)

INTTREL syllabus AY 2015-2016 Term 1 Page 13

 Course synthesis Week 11, 12, 13 Lecture-discussions
Individual paper
presentations;
consultations on term
papers;

INTTREL syllabus AY 2015-2016 Term 1 Page 14